Advantages

Disadvantages

Excellent price, does everything you expect from a plain pasta product!

As a student pasta is one of my staples, it's cheap, you can buy it in bulk and it doesn't go off. Also it happens to go with every meal/can be eaten plain! So imagine my joy when I discovered own brand pasta - it has all of those benefits AND it's even cheaper (I am definitely not a brand snob)

It comes in a plain bag with the morrisons savers type font on it, simple title stating what it is on the front and ingredients lists on the back. It's in a rectangular plastic packaging (be careful when you're opening it, the bag has a tendency to split right where you don't want it to, making it difficult to pour the pasta out successfully... though this is a problem with all pastas not just Morrisons).

I bought a bag of this for about 50p (which is SO reasonable) and got several good sized meals out of it, which makes me happy as a poor student, as I am spending less than 10p on parts of my meals!

The pasta is easy to cook, it took around 10 minutes in boiling water (I boiled the water in the kettle first to save time though), it was soft but not that horrible slimy feel that you can get with pasta. It tasted just the same as any brand pasta that I have ever tried (and I eat it plain, didn't need to mask it with any sauces whatsoever!). It keeps over night cold to go into salads or what not and doesn't go starchy or dry as has happened with other brands I have tried.

Overall, I would recommend this to absolutely everyone who has any remote need to buy pasta. It does everything to the same degree as a branded pasta and is usually less than half of the price!

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

A nice value pasta

Every week I always stock up on pasta and spaghetti because they are two staples I use all the time and so I always like to have a few packets left in case I decided to make something involving them. I eat pasta so much that it would be economically detrimental to me to purchase a more expensive brand name and so I buy it from Morrison's value range. There are certain things I wouldn't like to buy from the value range as I feel they lack in a certain level of quality to compensate for the price but pasta is not one of those.

The packaging is a very thick plastic that is sometimes a little difficult to open. One issue I have with this is that it can be a little difficult to open and if I cut it open with a knife or simply ripping it open it can sometimes lead to me pouring pasta all over my kitchen top or destroying the packet. As such I tend to open up the packaging and then pour the contents into plastic pots which also helps to keep the food nice as I use air tight ones. I also like that because the packaging is so simple and there is a see through square in the centre I can tell if it looks the kind of quality I'm looking for and if the pieces haven't been squashed and broken.

The pasta tastes the same as other brands I've tried and cooks nice and easily in usually a little under 20 minutes. Its a nice and easy food stuffs that can compliment a huge variety of meals. I tend to cook pasta or spaghetti for myself probably once or a twice a week and as such I'm obviously looking for a nice tasting quality pasta and I can assure you this product is.

Overall I would recommend this product as it tastes nice and is so cheap. I find that Morrison's value range is of a reasonable quality and at 32p it doesn't hurt to try it out.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fanastic for everyone who likes pasta and on a budget

Pasta is the one thing in my house that we use nearly every day, if im not cooking it for a family meal then I am making it for my husbands pack up for work so I tend to buy 5 or 6 packets a week, which can be a big chunk of money out of our weekly shopping budget. However when shopping in our local Morrisons we can across this bag of pasta and thought we would give it a try and save ourselves a little money and we have never looked back.

Firstly the packet is very bland and although Morrisons have changed their own brand label it still looks very plain. The packet itself is clear plastic so you can see the product inside. The label is white and yellow with the product name. On the back there are clear instructions on how to cook the pasta and all the ingredience information and allergy info. Also the nutritional information Per 75g Serving: Calories: 266 Sugar: 1.5g Fat: 1.5g Salt: Trace

As a parent of 2 young children I am always on the look out for the amount of salt in the food i cook for them so with this only having a trace in it and only a small amount of fat i was happy mummy. It comes in a 500g bag, enough for a large family meal or 3 or 4 days of small meals for packed lunchs which is perfect for our house.At first glance the pasta itself doesnt look any different to any other pasta that we have purchased from any other shop although they do seem just a little bit smaller than more expensive pastas that are on the market but nothing to be concerned about.

The pasta is very easy to cook, even if you have never cooked before, you simply add water to a pan and put on to boil. When water is boiling, add your pasta, reduce the heat and let it took for between 10 and 20 minutes depending on how much you have in your pan. Once soft and swollen looking, drain and serve depending on what you are actually making with the pasta. The only thing to remember is not to leave it boiling for too long because it starts to become a very sticky, gloopy mess.

Even though this is the Morrisons range and a lot of people have got their own ideas on how it will taste i can tell you that it has no effect on the taste of the food at all, it tastes exactly like the more expensive brands out there just at a fraction of the cost. When i first started buying this it was selling at 17p per bag, now it has gone up to about 19p if my memory serves me correctly which means i can buy 5 bags for the same price as i would if i were to buy one of the more major leading brands. Its fantasic to find something that is still great quality but at a lower price, due to the recession everyone is feeling the cost of living going up however with something as good as this and at a low price it makes life a little easier. There is so many different meals you can make out of pasta so you can always have something different but still using the same product which is great if you have a child like mine that will only really eat pasta. I can put so many different things into the pasta and my son has no clue what hes eating which is great.

A great buy and I would deffinatly recommend to everyone

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

highly recommend you give them a go.

The last few years have been a real struggle for most families and trying to keep the shopping bill down has been a monthly struggle for everyone. Everybody is out trying to buy good value for money but it seems some people just love making it harder for us raising the cost all the time. I have been trying the value range products at Morrison's just to try and keep the cost down and must say I have been rather impressed. A favourite of ours has to be the Morrison's Value pasta which last time I bought it was eighteen pence!

----The Packaging----

I have to start by saying the Morrison's Value pasta does come in only one type that is twists but that doesn't bother me at the end of the day it is dried pasta and I can manage to do many meals for us with it. It comes in the typical Morrison's value range packaging bright yellow thick plastic wrapping. My shopping trolley every week seems to be full of yellow! As well as coming in only the twist shape is does only come in a bag of 500g again this isn't really a problem is it. We are a family of four (my fiancé eats two peoples worth though!) and I use just over half of a bag to make a very good size meal. The packaging doesn't have a resealable option on it but I just roll the top up tightly and pop it back in the cupboard. I have had no problems with the pasta going soft. A bag of pasta doesn't usually last more than a week or two in our house any way. So the packaging is very basic and simple but it works.

----The pasta----

The dried pasta is light in colour and although is small is about average size for dried pasta. Once the pasta is cooked it expands to a decent size and to me tastes like any other pasta makes you can buy. I am not one for eating plan pasta although my eldest does occasionally like to! I find it is what you do with the pasta that makes it taste nice. My eldest son who is three and a half enjoys eating the value pasta plain and in his words says 'it tastes yummy, mummy'. The pasta is suitable for vegetarians and has a symbol on the front of the packaging to say so.

¬----Cooking the pasta----

Although the packaging is relatively basic there are cooking guidelines on the back. For cooked but a little firm (how I like it) it takes ten minutes to cook. I always wait till the water has come to the boil then turn it down and pop the lid on to save electricity and ten minutes later it is done! As well as cooking guidelines it does also have nutrition information on the back of the packaging too.

----My Opinion----

You can't go wrong with this pasta it is certainly value for money and I personally can't tell the difference between this and other more expensive makes. As I said before it is what you do with the pasta that counts. We have many different recipes that I use for this pasta sometimes I use the pasta to bulk meals up as pasta is rather filling. Here are a few of the meals I have used Morrison's value pasta twists for and the results have been great:

Tuna pasta bake - pasta in a white sauce with a tin or two of tuna mixed in, popped in an oven dish and topped with cheese and grilled till golden.

A tomato based pasta - cooked pasta mixed in a tomato based sauce which I make from a tin or two of value chopped tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, onion, garlic and seasoned with oregano and pepper

Bolognese pasta bake - make your mince Bolognese put in a oven proof dish, cook pasta and make a white sauce which you mix together put onto of the Bolognese and cover with cheese then bake in the oven for half an hour to forty minutes. Its very similar to lasagne!

Cauliflower, leek and pasta bake - basically a cauliflower cheese with leeks and pasta too, to bulk it out.

Plain pasta with cheese - is a lunch time favourite for my little boys. They like plain pasta with a little butter melted in and a bit of grated cheese on top once the pasta is on the plate. I find it a very quick and easy lunch they both love.

So as you can it is what you do with the value pasta that counts. My boys do also use it for arts and crafts when they are doing some sticking which I don't mind as it is so cheap. The only problem we find is it is a little difficult to stick pasta twists you need lots of glue penne pasta is easier!

----Value for money----

I certainly find this pasta value for money. Only the down side I find is Morrison's don't seem to be able to keep to a price. It ranges from month to month from 17p to 40p which I know I shouldn't moan about as even at 40p it is still very cheap. The last couple of weeks my local Morrison's has had it priced at 18p so my kitchen cupboard is currently full of 500g bags of value pasta!

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

Great Value for money!

I have just been cooking up a storm in the kitchen! I have just made a pasta bake!

The pasta I used is from the Morrisons Value range. This 500g pack of pasta cost me around 60p which I think is excellent value for money.

The pasta consists of brown pasta swirls. They look quite funny looking - they are a light-ish brown colour yet have a slightly powdery look.

~ * Cooking * ~

Cooking the pasta is very simple. Simply put on a pan of water to boil. Once it starts bubbling, add the pasta and cook for around 10-12 minutes. TA-DA, it's ready, and you can now do whatever you like with.

I tend to great cheese on top and put it in the oven for a couple of minutes until the cheese melts. Or if I am making a pasta bake, I will add the sauce, grate some cheese and put it in the over for around 5-10 minutes.

~ * So What Do I Think ? * ~

I am a big pasta lover and have it quite regularly. I usually tend to have it with grated cheese sprinkled on top (which I leave to melt), or as part of a pasta bake using a Dolmio pasta sauce. I found that when using this pasta, it is as though it doesn't like being mixed with other ingredients. With normal pastas, it seems that they loved to mixed with other ingredients, however, this pasta seems to want to keep away from other ingredients because it doesn't' blend very well. I find that the pasta has one taste and the sauce has a separate taste, which I find quite weird.

* What Does It Taste Like ? * ~~

Whilst the pasta is ok, there isn't that much taste. It has quite a bland and very starchy kind of taste. Despite being cooked quite well, it has quite a starchy texture; quite stiff and bitty.

~ * How About Value For Money? * ~

I find that a 500g pack of pasta lasts me quite a while. I can easily get three meals for myself from this pack. I would therefore say that this pack is very good value for money. It makes a cheap meal.

~ * What Else? * ~

All I did to this pasta when cooked, was stir it into the sauce. When I went to eat it, I could see that the pasta had fallen apart; it was no longer in its swirls (there were some swirls left), although the majority of it, where little 'stringy curls' which made it quite difficult to eat, as it was all in bits.

~ * Is It Nutritious ? * ~

Well, it is whole-wheat - nutritionists are always telling us to go for whole wheat pasta rather than normal pasta, so that has got to be a good thing hasn't it?

A 75g of pasta will provide you with 249 calories, which is quite a lot especially when you go on to add other ingredients such as cheese etc. There is 8.6g of protein and 49.3g of carbohydrates (2.3g of which is sugar) per 75g of pasta. A 75g serving will give you 5.7g of fibre and 2g of fat (0.4g of which is saturated). Overall, it isn't too bad - it will give you lots of energy!

~ * Would I Recommend ? * ~

Despite some of the bad points I have mentioned, I would definitely recommend this pasta. It is definitely one to have in the cupboard.

Thanks for reading!October Xdonzx / xd-o-n-z-x

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

An excellent value pasta that everyone should give a go.

Pasta is one of those staples I use a lot of each week. I normally use whatever is cheapest and until recently this was a choice between what I would say are the three largest supermarkets, those being, Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury. A 500 gram bag is usually anywhere between 9p and 41p. Recently when I was in Morrisons just browsing I came across this particular pasta which is the twists.

*~* Packaging *~*

The packaging is very basic for this product, a simple transparent plastic sort of bag with a few yellow bits on is a trademark of Morrisons own range. By being clear we are able to see the contained product clearly. The front details that this is Pasta Twists and that it comes from Morrisons. The back of the pack shows an ingredients list (Durum Wheat) contact and allergy information. This is suitable for basically anyone unless you have a gluten allergy. Also included is a nutrition chart, cooking instructions, storage information and a best before date. I like pasta for the fact that it has a long date and a lot can be done with it. I buy a huge lot before winter to keep me stocked up throughout the winter.

In my opinion the packaging is really cheap and tacky looking. Definately could be better looking but for the price I am not complaining about this at all.

*~* Price and Availability *~*

As this is a value product it is only available from Morrison stores. When I purchased this it was just 17p for a 500 gram bag. As with all retailers I assume that this will fluctuate and it is best to keep an eye out for when offers are on and it is super cheap.

*~* The Pasta Itself *~*

The pasta is a classic beige colour that to me seems to have a yellowish tinge to it, even when it is in the pot. It is hard and crunchy before cooking and small, tight curls. They are a little smaller than other brands I have found and also a little tighter as well I feel.

The cooking of this product is amazingly simple, you add it into a pot with boiling water. It has been said that slightly salted water is best for cooking pasta but to be honest I have done this a few times and never noticed any difference so I tend to do it with just plain boiling water. Once the pasta/water is boiling you turn down and simmer for 8 - 10 minutes. It's that simple. Once cooked you basically drain the water off and then serve either plain, with a sauce or however it is you want to eat it.

Taste wise this is very bland as are all other pastas I have tried. It is soft but not so much that it is mushy and inedible. I have found it to have a better taste than other value pastas I have tried.

*~* My Experience and Overall Opinion *~*

I really enjoyed using this product. It was simple to cook and tasted a little better I feel than others I have tried. The twists are an added novelty for a value brand as normally they are plain tubes and rather thick whereas these are a little thinner which means that adding flavour is exceptionally easy and can really be detected.

I have used this a few times for pasta bake, on it's own, added to cheese sauce, adding veg to it, adding a tomato sauce, making cold pasta salads and I have a few more recipes to try it out with. So far I have been very pleased with the results and my son has gobbled up every plate. He loves the little twists.

This is definately a product I would use again. I don't go into Morrisons often but when I do I definately a keep an eye out for this and stock up when it's super cheap. I find that a bag will last 4 seperate occasions for me and my son with some leftover for additional lunches so if bought at 17p I find that 1 pot is just over 4p. This is incredible value and is a filling meal. Definately 4 stars from me. An absolute bargain!

Nutritional Information Per 75g Serving:

Calories: 266 Sugar: 1.5g Fat: 1.5g Salt: Trace

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

great value,tastes good

Over the past few months I have been purchasing things from morrisons value range. At first I was worried about the quality,but ii have found most of the stuff is exactly the same quality as products 3x the price. I even braved their value bread and am quite amazed at the quality. Recently they have added alot more things to their range,including their pasta twists.A 500g pack will set you back all of 17p.

The twist come in a boring yellow packet that can bee easily spotted on the bottom shelf.IWould say the twists are smaller and tighter than most brands. I think this affects the cooking somewhat as when I add it to a pasta bake it takes longer than usual to cook and turn soft. It still taste good though as any other pasta. And for the 17p that I paid who can complain.I only use half a packet per pasta bake which works out at 8p. As pasta is one of the main staples it reduces the weekly shop greatly. I will definatley be buying this again.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

Great pasta, great price.

Pasta has always been a staple food in my family for as long as I can remember, eaten at least once a week.

In some supermarkets, pasta can actually be quite expensive so when I found that Morrissons do their own pasta as part of their Morrissons Value range, I was quite pleased and at only 32p a bag, its a total bargain. I usually buy a couple of bags of these at a time, as I like to always have a good stock of pasta in my kitchen cupboard.

The pasta comes in a clear and yellow printed plastic bag, which can sometimes be a bit difficult to open, but most of the time I have no problem opening the bag. The bag isn't resealable.

As for the pasta itself, it tastes just the same as higher priced pasta, and you honestly wouldn't know it was a cheap brand. It cooks easily and simply, and in under 20 minutes too. Just pop it into a pan of boiling water, and cook till ready to eat. The pasta has never been over starchy, and is a good, normal texture for pasta, its not soggy or wet, nor it is tough and chewy.

There is not much else I can really say on pasta, but if you do want to save money, I recommend buying Morrisons value pasta as it is just as good as more expensive brands, and only costs 32p a bag!

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

Well worth trying

Morrisons Value Pasta Twists

Description: Manufacturer: Morrisons / Food Type: Pasta

Anyone who regularly reads my reviews (many thanks, I really appreciate it!) will know that I review a lot of products from the supermarket ranges which offer savings to customers by spending less on posh looking packaging. As we all know, the packaging just gets thrown away anyway so it makes sense not to spend extra on it.

I have recently started buying items from the Morrison's Value range, whereas before, I admit that I passed it by, assuming that the cheap and nasty packaging meant that the product would also be cheap and nasty. I have been surprised to find that on many occasions, this isn't the case and the products have actually been great.

A 500g bag of these pasta twists cost me just £0.45 which is quite a lot cheaper than some of the competing brands. As with all items in this range, the packaging is plain white with yellow and the brand name across the front. The ingredients and nutritional information is written on the back.

As with any pasta, you simply add to boiling salted water to prepare. I like to add a drop or two of olive oil to prevent the pasta from sticking to each other. It takes about eight to ten minutes to prepare and should be served when al dente or firm to bite.

The pasta twists look much the same as any other brand and to be perfectly honest, they taste pretty much the same too! delicious and goes well with a huge range of sauces and ingredients. A favourite is pasta with pesto sauce and bacon which is cheap, easy to prepare and tastes delicious. These pasta twists work well in all pasta dishes and are an excellent way to save money without compromising on quality. In my opinion, these pasta twists are well worth buying and they will certainly feature on my shopping list again!

I eat quite a lot of pasta as it is filling and

A 75g serving contains the following;

Calories: 266Sugar: 1.5gFat: 1.5gSaturates: 0.2gSalt: Trace

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

See review

I do not know if it just me or what but does all dried pasta taste the same when cooked? After all it is only durum wheat. I may just be completely uneducated in the ways of pasta but hey, I'm sticking to the theory it's all the same.

This stuff is around 40p for a sizeable bag. This makes 3 lots of pasta meals for me and the other half.

Packets=Plastic sealed bags, mostly clear so you can see the product inside, yellow and white, nutrition chart and ingredients listed on the back.

Appearance=Ordinary beige pasta, I know you can get coloured stuff but this is the bog standard pasta, for what difference some colour additives make, I'd ratherpay less and stick to this.

Usage=Remember a little goes a long way. I should really try telling myself this seeing as I always use too much and end up cooking loads and getting bloated from eating too much of it.

It is simply added to hot water and simmer away for 12 minutes or so, I usually check a piece after it's cooled down somewhat to make sure that it it done, just be careful when pulling a piece of of the boiling water to test.

I find as with all pasta, the water boils over within a couple of minutes of boiling up, I would advise watching the pan or cook with the pan lid off because it boils over in white foam all over the hob and you have to clean it up after which is not good is it. Maybe I am doing it wrong but it always boils over on me. It must be all the carbs leaking out of the cooking pasta shapes making it boil over all frothy.

Some people rinse the pasta after or before in boiling water to rinse it off, just like you do with rice, I do not bother with pasta as it seems to be fine without this.

Taste=I don't much like pasta on it's own, it is more designed to be used with sauces and veggies and meats etc, otherwise it is just like eating something rather bland.

I like to add cooked courgettes, peppers, mushrooms to my pasta and sauces for pastas are plentiful, fresh and jars are available, but I think a tin of ratatouille over plain pasta makes an amazing cheap meal with the sauce, herbs and veggies it is just ideal and tasty for something so cheap. Chopped tomatoes can be poured over with a sprinkling of mixed herbs too. Oh and cheese is a must if somewhat unhealthy.

Summary=Always have loads of pasta in one of the most versatile foodstuffs going and perfect if you are wanting a quick easy meal. I absolutely love this stuff and this product is more than up to scratch for the job.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

Makes a great tuna pasta bake!

When it comes to pasta it's something I eat rather alot of to be honest. I like food to be easy to prepare, eat and foods that are versatile and pasta, for all those reasons is something that I indulge in.

The other day whilst in Morrisons I picked this up to try priced around about 37p a bag. I was impressed by the size of it to be honest for the tiny price it was offered at!

The Packaging:

Long bright yellow plastic bag and it has dark green writing all over it. On the front I'm told It's Morrisons 'Value' Pasta Twists, and the size is stated which is 500g, I'm told it is Vegetarian and there is an at a glance nutritional chart on there. On the back of the bag other information includes ingredients being listed (Duram Wheat), allergy advice is given (Contains: Gluten), there is a full nutritional chart on there, cooking information is given, storage and the best before date are also shown and finally contact details for Morrisons are listed. The packaging does look cheap and distinctive however I do like the fact that half of the bag at the back is clear so I can see how much pasta I have left etc though it isn't a resealable bag sadly.

The Pasta Itself:

It's a yellow colour and transparent and of course twist in shape. About an inch long and not too thick it is a dried pasta of course. Cooking it is ever so simple. Bring a pan of slightly salted water to the boil and add your desired amount of pasta (quantities are advised on the back of the bag) and then you simply bring it back up to the boil and then simmer for about 8-10 minutes. We are told to drain and serve it but personally I always rinse off my cooked pasta with boiling water straight from the kettle (old habits die hard lol).

Taste-wise this is ok. It doesn't have loads of flavour to it and lets just bear in mind for a moment that all this is of course is Durum wheat and the only additive (should you desire to add it) is salt.

It's easy to cook, doesn't clump together at all and of course has that versatility I so want. I eat this alone, stir a ready made pasta sauce in there or use it for a tuna pasta bake or something like that. I find it fine to use for anything really and like I said at the beginning of this review it does offer great value for money though it isn't huge on flavour! A good store cupboard product though!